Real-Time Slope Monitoring System and Risk Communication among Various Parties: Case Study for a Large-Scale Slope in Shenzhen, China

Abstract

This paper proposes the architecture of a real-time slope monitoring system based on the Internet of Things (IoT), which consists of a sensing layer, data acquisition layer, cloud computing layer, and client layer. The slope monitoring system was deployed in a large-scale slope in Shenzhen, China, which was estimated to be stable using slope stability analysis. However, a locally shallow landslide had occurred on the slope, meaning that the slope stability analysis method failed to indicate the slope failure. Conversely, through the monitoring results, it is found that the slope body is still under active movement. Besides, the advantages of a real-time slope monitoring system in risk communication among various parties are demonstrated by the case study. Wherein, the proposed monitoring system can produce more convincing, transparent, and temporal information regarding the state of slope safety than those by the manual monitoring technique. Furthermore, the monitoring data reflect the importance of detecting the internal displacement, as the indices for the facing displacement may be unable to indicate the actual movement of soils. That is particularly significant when considering a slope with supporting structures.